S5.E1 ∙ West is West: Beyond the Missouri

A poetic story about love and happiness between doc and fiction.

A poignant portrait of a family of asylum seekers desperate to start a new life, but stalled in bureaucratic limbo.

The story follows the five months in the life of Belgrade student Maja Sabljic, an actress to be, from her high school graduation day (at the end of May) until mid September when she tries to enroll to the Film Academy (FDU). The story is presented in the documentary style, involving the real-life persons of the late seventies' Belgrade scene.

Backdraft is the story about fire in the 18th century, but more that that, it's the story of how Colonial Williamsburg's historians and historic tradespeople worked together to replicate an 18th century fire engine that can still put out a fire. Consider the threat of fire in a world of wooden buildings, where candles provided light, fireplaces furnished heat, and open stoves were used for cooking. Fire was a danger to everyone. Students learn that it was the duty of every citizen to help fight fires. Students will also learn the scientific principles behind the state of the art 18th century fire engine and how Colonial Williamsburg historians and tradespeople recreated the tools and acquired the skills to build a replica.

In November 1943, 200 resisters from the Paris region were arrested by the Gestapo. 23 of them were shot on February 21, 1944. They are members of the "Manouchian" group, resisting communists foreigners, Jews for the most part.

A train travels 4,000 miles across North America with a revolving community of artists and musicians who collaborate on recordings, artworks, films, and 10 "happenings" across the country.